PREVIEW GAME #3 Canadiens vs. NY Rangers (Oct. 8/2017)

Lineup Changes – D Mark Streit will be replaced by Brandon Davidson on the third defense pairing. Torrey Mitchell will be in the lineup for the first time in place of Ales Hemsky.

Head to Head –

….Both teams are coming off losses in the first half of a back-to-back set of games. The Canadiens defeated in Washington 6-1. Rangers blew a 5-1 lead to lose in Toronto, giving up seven straight goals in an 8-5 loss..

….This is the first of three meetings wetween the Rangers and Canadiens and the only one at Madison Square Garden. The next game will be October 28 at the Bell Centre.

….Last season the Canadiens were 3-0-0 vs. the Rangers. One game (Feb21st) ended in a Canadiens shootout win (Byron with shootout winner).

….Eleven of the last 18 meetings were decided by one goal.

….The Rangers subsequently defeated the Canadiens 4 games-to-two in the first round of the playoffs.

….It has been ten years (2007-2008) since the Canadiens lost a season series against the Rangers.

….Since the start of 2008-2009 season the Canadiens are 7-6-0 at Madison Square Garden.

….The Canadiens have won 18 of the last 26 regular season meetings, nine of them by shutout.

….Since the start of the 2013-14 season the teams have played 14 regular season games. In eight of those games, shutouts were recorded- Price with five; Budaj-one. For the Rangers (2) Lundquist and Talbot.

About the Canadiens –

….Through their first two games the Canadiens have scored three goals on 84 shots on goal. Two of the three goals were scored by Canadiens penalty killers (Danault & Gallagher).

….Brendan Gallagher is the only member of the team with two points (1g, 1a).

….In his first two games with the Canadiens Ales Hemsky has picked up four minor penalties – two for slashing plus tripping and delay of game.

….Max Pacioretty has 11 shots on goal through two games with 1 point. The Drouin/Pacioretty/Gallagher line has accounted for 26 of the Canadiens 84 shots.

….This game starts a stretch of eight of the next nine Ranger games at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers will play ten MSG games in October- almost ¼ of their home schedule.

….This wraps up the first of 11 back-to-back sets this season. Last season the Rangers were 11-5-0 in the second half of back-to-back series.

….Mats Zuccarello established a single game career high with four points (1g 3a) in the losing cause in Toronto Saturday night. He has five points in his first two games.

….The Rangers had two first round 2017 draft choices. Swedish centre Lias Andersson (7th overall) has been returned to Frolunda of the Swedish league. 18 year old Czech centre Filip Chytil (21st overall) remains with the team and has been centering the productive second line with Rick Nash and Zuccarello.

Goaltending –

….Neither starting goaltender finished their game Saturday night. Price was pulled after allowing 4 goals on 14 shots at Washington. Lundqvist allowed five on 17 shots in Toronto.

….Carey Price is 7-0-0 with a 1.18 GAA and .962 save% with three shutouts in his last 7 starts against the Rangers.

….In 22 career starts vs. the Rangers Price is 15-5-1 with 7 shutouts, a 1.82 GAA and .940sv%.

….Henrik Lundqvist is 0-4-1 in his last five starts vs. the Canadiens – 3.33GAA and .885save%.

….In 35 career starts vs. Montreal, Lundqvist is 14-17-3 with a 2.87GAA; .898 save% and two shutouts.

….Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in 13 of his 20 career games against the Canadiens at Madison Square Garden.

….In the playoffs last spring Lundqvist was 4-2 with a 1.70GAA and .947 SV%. The .947save% tied him for his best in any career playoff series.